“So isn’t that a problem? Not being a full-blooded shifter.”
Fortunately, the hybrid bear stiffened at the insult. “Just because we don’t go totally hairy doesn’t mean we can’t lead.” He turned to her. “The problem is that you’re a hybridanda girl. You’re the weaker sex and though we may live in the twenty-first century, pack mentality is grounded in the Dark Ages.”
Like he had to tell her? She shoved to her feet, bringing the blanket with her. Her legs were still trembling, the aftershock of the Taser making her feel weak. Damn, she really wanted a shot of the serum. Better than a triple espresso, but that way lay disaster, so she blocked it out of her mind. What she couldn’t block was the way Kennedy stared at her, his gaze heavy, his expression thoughtful.
That, plus the fact that he was gloriously naked, erect, and mouthwateringly attractive to her. Stupid libido couldn’t tell a bear from a wolf.
He straightened up with her, his hands ready to catch her if she wavered. He didn’t touch her, which was a salve to her pride but a disappointment to certain other parts. Either way, she lifted her chin and stared all three of them down.
“Men addicted my pack to the serum, poisoned an entire city, and have gone to war with you for some idiotic reason I can’t fathom. Now are you going to help me overthrow them or not?”
“Help.” Kennedy’s answer was quick and without reservation, which warmed her down to her toes. But it was the alpha who mattered politically, and so she focused on him.
“How long do you need?” he asked. “Emory is pushing for a conflict.”
“Don’t give it to him!” she retorted.
“Bears do not back down from wolves,” he stated.
And right there was the problem with the entire male brain. It saw only two choices: fight or submit. “Talk. Negotiate. Stall. Anything you can while I get my people in line.”
“And how are you going to do that?” the alpha pressed.
“I have allies. You get Raoul out of the way, I can stage a coup. I’m a better fighter than anyone knows, and I’m smart enough to beat my father in a dominance fight.” She didn’t say strong enough. Emory was more powerful physically, but she knew his fighting weaknesses. She could best him. “But it won’t come to that,” she stressed. “I can manage the pack while my father sits as figurehead. I’ve been doing it for years. But I can’t do it if my brother takes me out from behind while I’m dealing with my father.”
She saw doubt in all their faces but to their credit, they didn’t argue with her, though the alpha pointed out her current problem.
“You’re running out of time.”
“Like I don’t know that. My best friend was just abducted by my brother’s bitch.” She took a breath, hating that her gaze strayed to Kennedy. “I’ll find where he’s keeping the serum. I promise.”
He nodded as if it were assured. “And I will help you.”
“And I—” began the hybrid, but the alpha cut him off.
“You’re coming with me. We’re spread too thin to risk everything on a single wolf of any gender or persuasion.” His gaze landed heavy on Ryan. “I do not trust her or what she’s done to you.”
“I know.”
He dug into his pocket and handed over a hypodermic case. “This is an antidote to the poison. Dr. Lu has used it twice now in the hospital, and it seems to stop continuing damage to the brain, but it can’t reverse it. Whatever damage your brain has already suffered is permanent.”
Kennedy took it, his gaze troubled. “I feel fine. Better than fine.”
“If that changes—”
“I’ll shoot up. Promise.” His lips quirked at the joke. Frankie didn’t smile. She knew from experience that once a shifter started with the serum, they didn’t want to stop. But after the first day, the hunger lessened. She only really craved it now when she was tried or stressed. Which meant she wanted it all the time.
Meanwhile, the alpha’s phone buzzed again, and he grimaced. “We have to go,” he said to the hybrid. Then he pinned her with a heavy look. “Work fast. We need leverage if you want to avoid a war.”
She winced. She hated that she was now forced to give leverage to the bears. Meanwhile, the hybrid pulled some clothing out of his backpack and tossed it at Kennedy. “And get dressed. It’s embarrassing to have you running around like that. People will think we’re rogue cover models or something.”
Kennedy looked down at himself like he just realized his nudity, but then he started pulling on the attire. Loose sweatpants, a tank top, and an extra-large pair of black Crocs. As soon as the other two left, she gestured at his erection. “That’s not going to happen. You know that, right?”
He arched a brow. “I think it’s pretty obvious that it is happening and will likely continue for the foreseeable future.”
She shot him an I’m-not-amused look, though secretly she did think his response was kind of funny. “What I mean is that we’re not going to have sex, make love, or do anything else that will make it very happy.”
He shrugged. “It seems to be very happy just being around you.”
